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St
Lawrence, South Walsham

This church is one of two in South
Walsham churchyard. Norfolk has several instances of
this, and it is almost always for the same reason; we are
on the border between two medieval manors, and both built
their churches in the same shared consecrated ground.
Why? Perhaps it was at the highest point, away from the
river. More likely, the layout of tracks and lanes simply
made it more convenient for it to be so. Both churches
were built as new in the early 14th century, although we
know there had been two churches here since at least the
12th century.

Even after
the Reformation, the two parishes sustained their
separate lives until well into the 19th century,
administrating their communities and providing a
preaching house for the people. St Lawrence had a Vicar; St Mary a Rector. There
probably wasn't any difference between the forms of
worship in each. If people went to church, they probably
worshipped at the one that governed their every day life.

In 1827,
St Lawrence was gutted by fire. The people seem to have
made the chancel safe, and carried on there (church going
wasn't particularly popular in the early 19th century, so
there would be plenty of room) and the rest was left to
crumble. In 1889 the two parishes were combined, and used
St Mary as the church. The chancel here became a school.

Probably
it had other uses, but it wasn't particularly
well-maintained. Nor were the tower and ruined nave; in
the spring of 1971 the tower was struck by lightning;
shortly afterwards the sonic boom of a low-flying plane
caused it to collapse, which is the kind of sight you'd
pay to see.

Today, the
ruins have been completely restored as a parish hall,
furnished neatly in a devotional manner, so it is suited
to liturgical as well as secular purposes. There is a
very curious alcove in the eastern wall I'd be interested
in knowing about. The building is open every day. The
ruins of the tower are surrounded by a scented garden,
which is absolutely lovely.